Audi Partners With Nvidia To Build A Self-Driving Car By 2020

Cars have evolved so much over the past century, and electronic technology has played such a massive part in that: The invention of electric cars was revolutionary, and other methods to power cars have been explored, and are coming to life before our eyes.

Technology, by definition, is purposed to make tasks easier to complete, and cars have become an essential part of the modern world. But how could driving be made any easier? There’s already on-demand navigation systems, drivers have access to their blind spots, so they can be completely aware of what’s around them. Modern technology has made the automobile so amazing as it is, how could driving become any easier?

Automotive company Audi and visual computing technology developer Nvidia might have the answer: Artificial Intelligence-driven vehicles. Imagine, hopping into the new Audi, and not having to do any driving. Sitting in the front seat and not having to lift a finger is possible now, and the idea is slowly being brought into fruition.

There’s a slight problem with this, though. A very concerning problem, actually. It’s a matter of life and death, really. There is an online platform called the “Moral Machine” that puts the user in the perspective of a self driving car, and guides them through a series of different scenarios involving what choice a self-driving car should make regarding an inevitable wreck.

Many of these choices are difficult to complete, the results of which involved the loss of human lives. For example, one of the scenarios involves a self driving car with two passengers, a solid barrier, and two pedestrians crossing the street in a legal manner. One of the pairs of pedestrians are certain to die. Certain questions have to be answered. In any case, cars are meant to protect the inhabitants contained within.

But within the stated circumstances, the car wouldn’t be enough. So would that justify the loss of the pedestrians? Many of these decisions are very subjective to the moral standards of those that partake in the survey of sorts. But those moral standards could decide the fate of a number of lives in the future. All of this and more will need to be considered as this industry grows.